Glee Cast Recalls Throwing Wild Party To Help Them Cope With Cory Monteith’s Death
In an emotional walk down memory lane, Glee alums Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz opened up about returning to work following the untimely passing of their friend and co-star Cory Monteith. On the latest episode of their podcast, And That’s What You Really Missed, the duo revealed some behind-the-scenes details of how they and the rest of the cast coped with grief while filming the first episode of Season 5, just two months after Monteith’s death in July 2013.
Discussing the Beatles-themed episode “Love, Love, Love,” McHale and Ushkowitz described how surreal and difficult it was to be back on the same set where they had spent so much time with Monteith. “We were all very much in the early stages of grieving,” McHale admitted, emphasizing how strange it felt to return to their routines without Cory. Ushkowitz agreed, sharing that she has a hard time remembering the details of filming that episode because of their loss.
The cast and crew decided they needed an escape. The solution? An epic two-day staycation in the Hollywood Hills that became a much-needed “rager.” According to McHale, “We basically had a rager for like 2 days,” he recounted as he painted a picture of a cast letting loose in a rental dubbed the “Castle in the Sky” due to its “weird” vibe. Ushkowitz chimed in, revealing that even people who couldn’t snag a room joined in the fun. “We had a party where people who didn’t get rooms came and partied anyway,” she added with a laugh.
Amid all the mourning and partying, McHale and Ushkowitz took a moment to praise Lea Michele’s strength during that challenging time. Michele, who dated Monteith for over a year before his passing, somehow managed to stay composed and focused on her role as Rachel Berry, carrying the show’s main storyline while still grieving her boyfriend. “I cannot imagine,” McHale shared. “I do not know how she did any of this. She’s still the main character in this show and is very much the main character in this episode.”
Ushkowitz echoed his sentiments, admitting she was “shocked” at Michele’s resilience. “Lea is very much leading the A storylines of this and still in the same world and without Cory. It’s so crazy,” she said. McHale added, praising Michele’s “strength” for being able to “keep powering through and bringing those stories as Rachel,” even as her personal life was turned upside down.
For the cast of Glee, returning to work was an experience filled with sorrow, resilience, and, laughter amid tears. Thanks to McHale and Ushkowitz, fans now have a glimpse into those bittersweet moments that helped them move forward together.
